Outage in Chandigarh as power employees go on 72-hour strike

Myriad areas in Chandigarh have been facing a power outage since Monday night amidst a 72-hour strike by the electricity employees of the Union territory.

The power outage has adversely affected the functioning of hospitals, and industries. Meanwhile, the employees are being supported by political parties as well as the Resident Welfare Association of the city, besides Pendu Sangharsh Committee and farmer organizations.

Electricity workers’ strike has started in Chandigarh against the privatization of electricity department. There has been an outcry in Chandigarh as soon as the 72-hour strike begins. Due to the strike, there were a simultaneous power cuts in many areas of the city around during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. All the claims of the administration also seem to be failing, because people are not getting any help from the helpline numbers.

Meanwhile, Punjab and Haryana High Court has summoned the Chief Engineer of Chandigarh, taking suo motu cognizance of the problems being faced by the people due to the strike of electricity workers in Chandigarh.

Chandigarh Mayor Sarbjit Kaur tweeted that she was constantly receiving complaints about power failure from many parts of Chandigarh. The Chandigarh Administration has called in 400 outsourcing workers from Punjab and Haryana so that the work of restoring power in the city can be kicked off immediately.

In view of the strike, the administration has issued helpline numbers but the people are not getting any assistance.

Nevertheless, commoners are calling the complaint centers since the Tuesdaymorning.

However, Tuesday evening, Chandigarh Administration enforced ESMA on Electricity department engineers and employees, and prohibited any such strike for the next six months